Akti—A Taste Of The Aegean
Set on Sydney’s Woolloomooloo Wharf, Akti offers a refined Greek dining experience with nostalgic flavours and coastal interiors inspired by the colours of the Aegean sunset.
Words HANDE RENSHAW Photos JACQUI TURK
The interior design direction was led by Perry Drakopoulos, who introduced coastal accents throughout, with a dining room palette of soft pinks, plums, and ivory—a gentle nod to an Aegean sunset.
The Aegean-inspired palette evokes the warmth of a Mediterranean sunset.
‘Having met the Drakopoulos family in Greece, I felt kinship and knew that they would be fantastic partners in bringing my food to Australia, where there has been a recent emergence of Greek cuisine,’ says celebrated international chef, Ntinos Fotinakis.
From the dining room to the wharfside terrace, Akti opens seamlessly onto Sydney Harbour—a sunlit setting that channels the spirit of a Greek coastal town.
Akti’s playful take on a martini, Before 9, arrives with EVOO fat-washed vodka, clarified celery, cherry tomato, kalamata olive and spice—a nod to the venue’s Greek roots.
“Being a coastal city synonymous with beautiful beaches and summer, Sydney and the harbourside location of Akti in particular, feels like the perfect extension of the Greek experience.”
Akti’s lounge-style nook offers a moment of calm amid the energy of the restaurant—layered with playful textures, vintage-inspired furnishings, and curated curios that echo the venue’s coastal-meets-heritage spirit.
The cocktail list is a collaboration of Akti mixologist Nicola Drakopoulos and chef Ntinos Fotinakis with a mix of classics and signature house specialties.
Baraki—Akti’s breezy small bar—brings a playful seaside charm to the Wharf, with striped upholstery, lemon-hued lamps and a palette of pinks that frame its Mediterranean spirit.
Akti’s waterfront terrace sets the scene for sunset dining with uninterrupted views of Sydney’s skyline.
The Akti menu is a vibrant celebration of Greek tradition with a modern twist, designed by acclaimed chef Ntinos Fotiniakis.
A playful nod to tradition, Akti’s Athenian Mess dessert is served harbourside—layered with crispy filo, ice cream, and a pour-over flourish of syrup that brings Greek nostalgia to life.
Akti's sun-drenched terrace spills out onto Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf, setting the scene for harbourside dining with a distinctly Mediterranean feel.
Sydney Restaurant Group’s latest venture, Akti, has recently opened at the iconic Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf, marking a fresh chapter for the harbourside dining destination.
Stepping into the space formerly occupied by Manta, Akti brings with it a contemporary take on Greek cuisine, led by celebrated chef Ntinos Fotinakis and head chef Robert Judd.
Sydney Restaurant Group founder Bill Drakopoulos reflects on the transition: ‘It has truly been a privilege to manage the closing chapter of Manta, a Sydney dining institution for the past 17 years. Akti will bring new energy to a space as quintessentially Sydney as the harbourside Finger Wharf... We are paying homage to this shared heritage, with the new venue embodying the Greek tradition of filoxenia—whole-hearted hospitality.’
The connection between the Drakopoulos family and Fotinakis was forged in Greece, a kinship that now brings a refined Greek dining experience to Sydney’s shores. ‘Being a coastal city synonymous with beautiful beaches and summer, Sydney and the harbourside location of Akti in particular, feels like the perfect extension of the Greek experience,’ says Ntinos.
The menu at Akti is a nod to Greek nostalgia, reimagined with flair and technique. Think giouvarlakia reinterpreted as a raw fish dish, and galaktoboureko transformed into the playful ‘Athenian Mess’ served tableside. Seafood takes centre stage across shared dishes: taramasalata with smoked yuzu, tzatziki, and melitzanosalata; blue eye crudo with passionfruit and chilli; and the standout moussaka croquette. The slow-roasted lamb shoulder arrives with theatrical flair, smoked with burnt rosemary and carved tableside.
‘From my time working at Hellenika, I have a great understanding of and appreciation for Greek cuisine,’ says Robert. ‘I’m thrilled to be joining the Sydney Restaurant Group team and working alongside Ntinos to deliver a beautiful Greek experience at one of Sydney’s most classic harbourside locations.’
The drinks menu is equally thoughtful, with Greek wines sitting alongside international selections. Signature cocktails, developed by Nicola Drakopoulos and Ntinos, include Meet Me At Akti (aperol, limoncello, clarified guava and pistachio), Kalimera, Baby (a tzatziki-inspired mix with dill vodka and Greek yoghurt), and Before 9, a savoury martini riff.
Designed by Perry Drakopoulos, the space draws from coastal Greek aesthetics, layering soft pinks, plums and ivory to evoke an Aegean sunset. Diners can choose from the main dining room, private rooms with harbour views, the alfresco terrace, or Baraki—a small bar for casual drinks and meze. ‘We want our diners to be able to relax into the meal the way one would sitting harbourside in Greece,’ Perry notes.
Akti
6 Cowper Street Wharf, Woolloomooloo
Follow @aktisydney_ on Instagram
